On Wednesday, the Alabama Republican Party certified the June 21 primary runoff election results, meaning that except for one possible challenge in State House District 2, Republican nominees are set for the November ballot in state and federal elections.
However, it was not without controversies around the state, including the State Senate District 27 contest between Tom Whatley and Jay Hovey, and the aforementioned State House District 2.
During an interview with Rightside Radio host Phil Williams on Wednesday, Alabama Republican Party chairman John Wahl said his two main takeaways from the rocky primary campaign season were the need for a closed primary system and a requirement that all of Alabama's 67 counties have a uniform mapping software.
Wahl cited a New York Times opinion piece written by a self-proclaimed Democrat Auburn University professor boasting about swaying the outcome in the State Senate District 27 outcome, which was settled by one vote after all the ballots were tallied.
"I'll tell you, as we've gone through this process, I have become more and more impressed by the need to close our primaries," Wahl said. "You know, we literally had a professor in Auburn writing an op-ed in The New York Times bragging that their vote -- they were a Democrat, a strong Democrat-- that their vote changed the Republican primary. That's obviously very disconcerting and very upsetting to Republicans. We should have Republicans electing Republican nominees and Democrats electing Democrat nominees, not spilling over into each other's primaries. I think for both parties' sakes, we need to get that done."
Wahl also pointed to what appeared to be widespread problems throughout the state where some voters were not given the correct ballot that should have corresponded with their State House and Senate districts, which continues to plague the party in at least one outcome.
"[Y]ou really learn where the problems are when you're the guy hearing the lawyers argue in these election contest cases," Wahl added. "Sitting through 12 hours of deposition and arguments, listening to all sides in three different cases. Another thing I think we have to do is make sure every county, every one of our county's boards of registrars, have voter mapping software. You need to have that ability to see where district lines are and make sure people are assigned to the right areas."
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com.
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